Outboard motor carrier for trunk lid of an automobile



Jan. 18, 1966 R. R. JOHNSON OUTBOARD MOTOR CARRIER FOR TRUNK LID OF ANAUTOMOBILE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. l0, 1955 wai NGE

lNvENToR OBEAT R. r/0//A/50/1/ BY @Mfg XW kW/ A TTORNE Ys oUTBoARD MOTORCARRIER FOR TRUNK LID oF AN AUTOMOBILE Filed Feb. l0, 1965 Jan. 18, 1966l R. R. JOHNSON 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

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Jan. 18, 1966 R. R. JoHNsoN 3,229,833

OUTBOARD MOTOR CARRIER FOR TRUNK LID 0F AN AUTOMOBILE Filed Feb. l0,1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 m. Sw

United States Patent O ice 3,229,838 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 3,229,838OUTBOARD MOTOR CARRIER FOR TRUNK LID OF AN AUTOMOBILE Robert R. Johnson,624 4th St., Proctor, Minn. Continuation of application Ser. No.219,474, Aug. 27, 1962. This application Feb. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 433,8414 Claims. (Cl. 214-450) 'This application is a continuation ofapplication, Serial No. 219,474, tiled August 27, 1962. The inventionrelates broadly to means for transporting an outboard motor and moreparticularly to a carrier for the motor which is removably mounted onthe trunk lid of an automobile.

It is an object of the invention to provide a carrier for an outboardmotor which is mounted on the trunk lid of an automobile. It is also anobject to provide a carrier which has a carriage member on which theoutboard motor is mounted and which is removably mounted on the carrier.

It is a further object to provide an outboard motor carriage which isnot only removably mounted on the carrier but which is used to transportthe motor over the ground when the carriage is removed from the carrieron the trunk lid.

It is a still further object to provide a carrier having a motorcarriage which allows easy and quick removal of the motor from thecarrier to the ground and placement of the motor from the ground to andupon the carrier. l

It is also an additional object to provide a carrier for an outboardmotor for the trunk lid of an automobile which allows access to thetrunk through opening of the lid.

It will not be here attempted to set forth and indicate all of thevarious objects and advantages incident to the invention, but otherobjects and yadvantages will be referred to in or else will becomeapparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings,showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive ideawherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an outboard motor mounted on thecarrier mounted on the trunk lid of an automobile, the carriage of thecarrier and the motor thereon being shown in broken lines in a partiallyremoved position.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the carrier.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of the carrier frame.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the carriage removed from the carrierframe.

FIGURE 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the carrier A includes theframe 10 which includes the longitudinal spaced channel members 12 and14 which are rigidly connected at the front ends thereof by the endbrace member 16. Each of the channel members 12 and 14 form a track ashereinafter described and is provided with a slot 13 and 15,respectively, at the rear end thereof. Secured to the underside of thefront end brace 16 are the pairs of suction cups 18 and 20 which engagethe front upper surface of the trunk lid 22. Further provided is thetransverse brace 24 formed of the straight bar portion 26 and theupstanding end members 28 and 30. The end members 28 and 30 are eachformed with a series of holes 32, any of which may be aligned with anyof a series of holes 34 formed in the side wall portions 36 and 38 ofthe channel members 12 and 14, respectively. The selective alignment ofthe holes 32 of end members 28 and 30 with the holes 34 of the channelwalls 36 or 38 by means of the nut-equipped bolt 39 allows vertical andhorizontal adjustment of the transverse brace 24 which is necessary toadapt the frame to various size and shape trunk lids.

The numeral 40 designates a bracket for supporting the frame 10 on thetrunk lid 22 and the same includes the horizontal angle piece 42 towhich is secured the pair of vacuum cups 44. Extending upwardly from theangle piece 42 is the vertical piece 45- formed with a series of holes46, any of which may be aligned with any of the holes 48 formed in thewall 38 of the channel 14 by means of the nut-equipped bolt 50. Abracket 52, identical to bracket 40, is adjustably secured to the wallportion 36 of channel 12.

Further provided are the strap loops 54 and 56 in which are positionedthe hooks 58 and 60, respectively. Each of the hooks 58 and 60 engageunder the front edge of the lid 22. Also provided are the strap loops 62and 64 on which the straps 66 and 68 are secured. Secured to each end ofthe straps 66 and 68 is a hook 70 which is engaged under the rear edgeof the trunk lid 22.

A pair of identical hollow support rods 72 and 74 are provided, theupper end of each secured to the channel 12 and 14, respectively. Thesupport rods 72 and 74 are telescopic and adjustable in length by meansof a thumb screw 76. Each of lower ends of the support rods 72 yand 74is mounted on a pin 78 which extends upwardly into the lower hollow endof the rod, the pin 78 secured to a clamp 80 which is mounted on therear bumper 82 of the automobile B.

The numeral 84 designates a carriage which includes the longitudinalside angle members 86 and 88, the front ends thereof being rigidlyconnected by the front brace 90. The rear ends of the side members 86and 88 are rigidly connected by the rear brace 92. Mounted on the sidemembers 86-and 88 adjacent the front ends thereof are the small Wheels94 and 96, respectively. The wheels 94 and 96 are rotatably mountedonthe shaft 98 which is connected to the members 86 and 88. The wheels94 and 96 are of a diameter whereby the same will rotate within thechannels 12 and 14,\respective1y.

Further provided is the front motor support 100 to which the motor isclamped by means of the conventional clamps found on an outboard motor.

The support 100 is secured to the identical brackets 102 and 104, eachbracket formed with the short foot portion 106, the long foot portion107, the leg portions 188 and and the top portion 112 connected theretoand mounting the support 100. The support 100 is adjustable fore and afton the members 86 and 88 of the carriage 84 by means of a slot 114formed in the long foot portion 107 of each of the brackets 102 and 104.A nut-equipped bolt 116 is mounted in the slot 114 and secured to theside member. The short foot portion -106 of each of the brackets 102 and104 is adjustably secured to the side member 86 or 88 by means of thenut-equipped bolt 118 extended through one of a series of holes 120formed in the side members 86 and 88.

The support 100 has secured to each end thereof a loop 122 to each ofwhich is secured the adjustable strap 124, and on the lower end of eachof the str-aps 124 is the hook 126 which is engaged under the side edgeof the channel members 86 and 88 to hold the carrier member in place.

Further provided is the support Saddle member 126 which is securedtransversely of the carriage 84 by means of the brackets 128 and 130mounted on the side members 86 and 88 of the carriage 84. The supportsaddle member 126 has formed on the top edge thereof the -sion 132 bymeans of the adjustable strap 136 connected to the saddle 126.

The carriage 84 has mounted on the rear or lower end thereof the wheels138 and 140, particularly FIGURE 5. The mounting of each wheel isidentical and includes the shaft 142 rotatably mounted on the sidemembers 86 and 88 at the rear ends thereof. The Shaft 142 is positionedon the members 86 and 88 by means of the collars 144 and 146 secured oneach side of the vertical angle portion of the longitudinal side member88, for example. A further collar 148 is provided which is spaced fromthe collar 146 and against which the wheel 140 bears.

The channel members 12 and 14 are each formed with a pair of holes 150and 152, respectively, which receive a pin such as 154.

In using the carrier A, the frame is mounted on the trunk lid 22 'bymeans of the suction cups 18 and 20 together with the cups 44 and heldtightly in position by the straps 58 and 60, and the pair of straps 124.The straps 66 and 68 which engage the lower edge of the trunk lid aid inpreventing the unit from moving forward upon a sudden stop of theautomobile. To further support the carrier A, the supports 72 and 74 areconnected to the bumper as hereinbefore set forth.

The motor 134 is then clamped onto the support 100 and secured to thesaddle 126 by means of the strap 136.

Assuming the motor is on the carriage 84and the carriage is removed fromthe frame 10, the carriage and motor may be easily mounted on the frameby placing the carriage and motor in the position shown in broken linesin FIGURE l with the small wheels 94 and 96 engaging in the rear outerends of the longitudinal frame channel members 12 and 14, respectively.The carriage 84 is then lifted at its rear end and at the same timepushed forwardly so that the wheels 94 and 96 travel forwardly into thechannel members 12 and 14, respectively, until the wheels 94 and 96 abutthe brace 16 of frame 10.

As the carriage is put into position on the frame 10, the shaft 142engages the slots 13 and 15 of the channels 12 and 14, respectively,particularly FIGURE 5. The pins 154 are then inserted through the pairsof holes 150 and 152, and as a result the shaft 142 abuts the pinsinwardly thereof thereby locking the carriage upon the frame 10.

To remove the motor 134 and carriage 84 from the frame 10, the pins 154are removed. The carriage 84 is then pulled rearwardly with the wheels94 and 96 riding in the channels 12 and 14, respectively. As thecarriage is withdrawn from the frame 10 as above, the outer end islowered whereby the wheels 138 and 140 are positioned upon the ground asin FIGURE 1 with` the small wheels 94 and 96 just within the outer endsof the channels 12 and 14. In this position, the carriage may be graspedby the front end brace 90 and pushed about at an angle upon the wheels138 and 140 to wherever it is desired to use the motor.

T-he invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An outboard motor carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, saidcarrier comprising in combination:

(a) a frame comprising two laterally spaced, longitudinally extending,track dening channel members rigidly connected one toA another by crossbraces,

(b) said frame having suction cup means to engage the upper surface ofsaid trunk lid,

(c) said frame also having strap and hook means to engage edge portionsof said trunk lid,

(d) support rod means connected by the upper end thereof to said frameand having lower clamp means to engage a rear bumper of said automobile,

(e) a carriage having a front outboard motor support to engage clamps onsaid outboard motor, and a rear support saddle member to engage a shaftportion of said outboard motor,

(f) said carriage having front wheel means to engage said channelmembers of said frame, and

(g) said carriage having at the rear end thereof ground wheel means bywhich said carriage can be rolled to and from said automobile and bywhich said carriage can be supported from the ground as said front wheelmeans -isV engaged and disengaged fromsaid channel members.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein'there are two hook andstrap means connected to each side of said carriage, each to reacharound a respective proximate channel member and hook onto said carriageand thus hold said carriage in place.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, where-inthere is a pair of rearground wheels mounted to a shaft on said carriage, each channel memberhaving .a slot to receive said shaft, and each channel member having pinmeans to secure said shaft in the slot of its respective channel.

4. In combination with an automobile having a trunk lid which is apredetermined distance from ground level, an outboard motor carriercomprising:

(a) a frame mounted immediately above said trunk lid at a predetermineddistance above ground level and comprising two laterally spaced,longitudinally extending, track defining channel members rigidlyconnected one to another by cross braces,

(b) said frame having suction cup means to engage the upper surface ofsaid trunk lid,

(c) said frame also having strap and hook means to engage edge portionsof said trunk lid,

(d) a pair of support rods,veach connected by the upper end thereof to arespective one of said channel members and having lower clamp means toengage a rear bumper of said automobile,

(e) a carriage having a front outboard motor support to engage clamps onsaid motor, and a rear support saddle member to engage a shaft portionof said motor,

(f) said carriage having on each side thereof a respective one of a pairof front wheels to engage a related channel member `of said frame,

(g) said carriage having at the rear end thereof a pair of ground wheelsby which said carriage can be rolled to and from said automobile, and

(h) said front wheels being spaced from `said rear wheels a distancegreater than the distance of` said frame above ground level, wherebysaid front wheels can be brought into and out of tracking engagementwith said channel members while said carriage is supported from groundlevel by said ground wheels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HUGO O. SCHULZ,Primary Examiner.

1. AN OUTBOARD MOTOR CARRIER FOR THE TRUNK LID OF AN AUTOMOBILE, SAIDCARRIER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A FRAME COMPRISING TWO LATERALLYSPACED, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, TRACK DEFINING CHANNEL MEMBERS RIGIDLYCONNECTED ONE TO ANOTHER BY CROSS BRACES, (B) SAID FRAME HAVING SUCTIONCUP MEANS TO ENGAGE THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID TRUNK LID, (C) SAID FRAMEALSO HAVING STRAP AND HOOK MEANS TO ENGAGE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID TRUNKLID, (D) SUPPORT ROD MEANS CONNECTED BY THE UPPER END THEREOF TO SAIDFRAME AND HAVING LOWER CLAMP MEANS TO ENGAGE A REAR BUMPER OF SAIDAUTOMOBILE, (E) A CARRIAGE HAVING A FRONT OUTBOARD MOTOR SUPPORT TOENGAGE CLAMPS ON SAID OUTBOARD MOTOR, AND A REAR SUPPORT SADDLE MEMBERTO ENGAGE A SHAFT PORTION OF SAID OUTBOARD MOTOR, (F) SAID CARRIAGEHAVING FRONT WHEEL MEANS TO ENGAGE SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS OF SAID FRAME,AND (G) SAID CARRIAGE HAVING AT THE REAR END THEREOF GROUND WHEEL MEANSBY WHICH SAID CARRIAGE CAN BE ROLLED TO AND FROM SAID AUTOMOBILE AND BYWHICH SAID CARRIAGE CAN BE SUPPORTED FROM THE GROUND AS SAID FRONT WHEELMEANS IS ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED FROM SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS.